Dems Caving Again To Bush on Iraq War-funding Bill

[EV_Ares]

Dems Set War Bill Without Iraq Timeline
By DAVID ESPO, AP Special Correspondent
37 minutes ago

WASHINGTON - In grudging concessions to President Bush, Democrats intend to draft an Iraq war-funding bill without a timeline for the withdrawal of U.S. troops and shorn of billions of dollars in spending on domestic programs, officials said Monday.

The legislation would include the first federal minimum wage increase in more than a decade, a top priority for the Democrats who took control of Congress in January, the officials added.

While details remain subject to change, the measure is designed to close the books by Friday on a bruising veto fight between Bush and the Democratic-controlled Congress over the war. It would provide funds for military operations in Iraq through Sept. 30, the end of the fiscal year.

Democrats in both houses are expected to seek other opportunities later this year to challenge Bush's handling of the unpopular conflict.

Democratic officials stressed the legislation was subject to change. They spoke on condition of anonymity, saying they were not authorized to discuss provisions before a planned presentation to members of the party's rank and file later in the day.

http://www.comcast.net/news/index.jsp?cat=GENERAL&fn=/2007/05/21/669134.html

[fooj]

1. The leadership apparently isn't confirming the AP story.

http://electioncentral.tpmcafe.com/blog/electioncentral/2007/may/21/report_dem_leadership_to_give_bush_his_way_on_iraq

[gkhouston]

11. Very interesting. Thanks for the link. So the AP story may be bogus?

Hmm...

[Faux pas]

2. It's all just a game to them. Lily livered money grubbing farkers. n/t

[JDPriestly]

3. This is shameful.

I tried to e-mail my Congressman to protest, but my e-mail was rejected because I did not state the suffix four digits of my zip code on the e-mail form. I think highly of my Congressman but that is just ridiculous. As is these bozos caving in to the pressure from Bush. What do we have to do to change this country's policy? What do we have to do to get their attention? This will not do. This war is immoral and illegal.

[EV_Ares]

4. I know, have had the same problem and it is getting harder to get

mail to our congressmen & senators. It used to be you could just email them, not any more for a lot of them.

[pizzed]

8. HOW to reach Congress:

don't even try to send a uspo letter --- H.S. takes Congressional mail "for security purposes".
You CAN still send POSTCARDS to a congressmans HOME office address.
Email aren't read anyway, usually. They're normally answered by auto-responders.
BEST way is to call their offices:Congressional Operator 1-800-828-0498
IF you want to send a message anyway, use the form-mail they have on their webpages. (those are usually read by some Jr Clerk's assistant) To do that, you will have to use THEIR OWN HOME ZIPCODE, (any other zip codes will bounce) which you can easily find here:

Senate: http://www.congress.org/congressorg/directory/search_results.tt?action=cong&chamber=S&last=&show=party


House: http://www.congress.org/congressorg/directory/search_results.tt?action=cong&chamber=H&last=&show=party

Did everyone hear about this? http://www.opednews.com/articles/genera_rob_kall_070512_department_of_defens.htm
By Rob Kall
Department Of Defense To Block Troop Access To Myspace, Youtube, MTV, Blackplanet , Photobucket And More Sites
Military further blinds our already abused and betrayed troops
Is it because A.) they don't want the troops telling their high school buddies back home NOT to enlist... or B.) they don't want the troops in Iraq to learn WHY they are really there... or C.) how many thousands of us are screaming for IMPEACHMENT? (god forbid the troops revolt?)

We need to be watching closely at how the demonstrators are treated at these commencement addresses. Buses and car caravans are coming from all over the region to the demonstrations on May 23 in New London, CT,to protest BUSH and on May 26 in West Point (in upstate New York)to protest CHENEY. (incidently, I heard they REQUESTED to be Speakers --- & were NOT 'asked')

We can protest SAFELY, like this: http://pledgetoimpeach.org OR risk more of THIS:
2007 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mn_EcHlWpNg
2003 http://benfrank.net/nuke/ftaa112003/Police_Brutality_in_Miami.html
1999. http://www.propagandamatrix.com/020903ps2.html
DEMAND that Conyers and Pelosi IMPEACH!

[pizzed]

5. what's behind it ???

Please think this over!

I think our Congress is DELIBERATELY STALLING the bill while BushCo makes the Iraq (puppet) government go along with it and pass the Iraq Oil Deal on their end. and IMO- it is ALSO about "why" congress won't impeach. It is all about Corporate/PNAC Interests = Profit & Power.

(& haven't we recently been hearing faint hints that "Maliki may need to be replaced" - think about it---)

I wonder why anyone 'wonders why' Cheney made a trip to the M.E. (unless it was to threaten the Iraqi "government" & their neighbors to go along with this oil deal 'OR ELSE'??
Raed Jarrar (Raed In The Middle Blog) is Faiza's son, the wonderful Iraqi lady engineer with the 3 wonderful sons (A Family in Baghdad Blog)
Faiza came to the US to meet w/ Cindy Sheehan and do some great PR work for the poor Iraqi people. I believe Raed is still here (?) the rest of the family, thank God, is safely out of Iraq for now. They are a marvelous, intelligent family, I love them! I've followed them for so long that I feel like they "belong" to me :-) Incidently, the family is a mixture of Sunni, Shia, Muslim, Christian, w/ some Iranian and even some communist close relatives... and until Bush's assault on them everyone considered them simply "Iraqi".

http://raedinthemiddle.blogspot.com/
Monday, April 23, 2007
The New Oil Law Will Increase Violence in Iraq
An English version of a new Iraqi oil law
leaked in mid 2006... the law privatises Iraq’s
oil and opens the doors for U.S. companies to
sign long term contracts controlling Iraq’s oil
resources and infrastructure
http://www.globalpolicy.org/security/oil/irqindx.htm
...The four giant firms located in the US and
the UK have been keen to get back into Iraq,
from which they were excluded with the
nationalization of 1972. During the final
years of the Saddam era, they envied companies
from France, Russia, China, and elsewhere, who
had obtained major contracts. But UN sanctions
(kept in place by the US and the UK) kept those
contracts inoperable... In the new setting,
with Washington running the show, "friendly"
companies expect to gain most of the lucrative
oil deals that will be worth hundreds of
billions of dollars in profits in the coming
decades...
http://electroniciraq.net/news/3053.shtml
Iraq Oil Law: In Whose Interest?
Raed Jarrar, 8 May 2007
A draft of a new oil law is working its way
through Iraq's parliamentary process...
The architects of a new Iraq oil law aim to
privatize Iraq's oil and open the doors for
American companies to sign long term contracts
controlling Iraq's oil resources and
infrastructure, which is in violation of
existing US legislation (No: 109-234)...

http://www.globalpolicy..org/security/oil/2007/0508struggleiraqioil.htm
The Struggle over Iraqi Oil
By Michael Schwartz
May 8, 2007

PS~ CA district 2 being what it is, IF we could find a "celebrity" canidate for Herger's seat, they'd elect him. hands down.

[EV_Ares]

6. Good post, thanks for posting that, will have to read more closely

as leaving for dinner, good points and food for thought.

[leftchick]

16. wow! great post

it always comes down to profits. I was readiung the other day about Big Oil now funneling money to democrats.

[Sukie1941]

7. I have had it. They are ALL jerks

"WASHINGTON - In grudging concessions to President Bush, Democrats intend to draft an Iraq war-funding bill without a timeline for the withdrawal of U.S. troops and shorn of billions of dollars in spending on domestic programs, officials said Monday...."

THOSE BILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN "PENDING ON DOMESTIC PROGRAMS" INCLUDE FUNDING OWED TO US HERE IN SO. OREGON TO KEEP OUR FIFTEEN (AND NOW EVEN MORE) LIBRARIES OPEN. THOSE MONIES BELONG TO US HERE IN SO. OREGON FOR FEDERAL TIMBER RECEIPTS. The money belongs to us!!!!!!!

THAT, PLUS THE MINIMUM WAGE BEING IGNORED, PLUS THESE NEW CONCESSIONS TO PRESIDENT BUSH.....

NEW CONCESSIONS TO PRESIDENT BUSH!

CONCERNING THE IRAQ WAR-FUNDING HAVE CAUSED ME TO DECIDE THAT I AM PROBABLY GOING TO STAY OUT OF POLITICS THIS NEXT 1-1/2 YEARS.

I HAVE HAD IT, FOLKS. I AM GOING TO START ENJOYING LIFE, AND ONE OF THOSE THINGS WILL BE TO KEEP THE DAMN TELEVISION TURNED OFF OTHER THAN TO WATCH MY FAVS, AND TO STAY AWAY FROM READING EXCEPT BOOKS I HAVE STACKED UP UNREAD WHILE I WORRY ABOUT OUR COUNTRY, AND TO START HAVING SOME FUN!

[pizzed]

17. the A.H.'s will be glad to hear that...

They want us to quit.

If an attacker threatens your kids or grandkids, do you run or fight?

[pizzed]

9. "grudging concessions" my phannie!!

This is NOTHING BUT betrayal of the November mandate given the Dems by AMERICAN VOTERS! A pox on them all!

welcome the the United Corporate-states Of America.

How loud can you yell: "HEIL!!" ??

...and for those AIPAC-Pelosi "democrats" it is all about stalling until those OIL CONTRACTS can be safely in the hands of the Chevron Halliburton Gangs. PNAC promised never-ending wars.

It may be too late already, but we NEED to ATTEMPT a THIRD PARTY TAKE-BACK of OUR Nation, folks!!

[Az]

10. Its a no win position for them

If they continue to attempt to force the timetable into the bill W can just sit there and sign the veto. The Dems come off as the villain in that scenario. And the longer they withhold funding to the military the more they come to own the deaths in the conflict.

The only way George loses is if the troops come home before he is out of office without his so called victory.

The irony is that if the Dems do not force in the timetable then George continues to sink in the quagmire of his own making. Not only does he go down but the repug candidates currently running are forced to either side with him or destroy him themselves. Either case is a no win for the repugs.

Although it sticks in our claw the old adage is still true. If your enemy is hanging himself give him all the rope he needs and just stand back and let him get on with it.

[pizzed]

13. sorry, but you missed that by a mile.

AIPAC-Pelosi and the cowardly dems are part and parcel of supporting this war... they only to make a pretense of 'supporting the peoples mandate' with NO INTENTION WHATSOEVER of ending it.

Voters have to stop being gullible... because we're hanging over the abyss by our fingernails.

Dems AND Repubs are owned by the Corporate Money that ALL are controlled by.

READ and THINK...

[Az]

21. You are missing a point

While the Dems may be tainted by the same money they do not look at the repugs as allies. They still see them as opposition to be challenged and defeated.

[Johonny]

20. I have to agree with you

When the MSM reacted to the veto with White House talking points and no one mentioned that the dates were no binding, I knew the Dems. were in trouble. I just hope they got something tangible in the deal. I.E. The raise in the minimum raise. Frankly the best thing that could happen to the Dems. is if they pass such a Bill with underwhelming support. I.E. as few Dem votes as possible and hope the public responds very negative to it.

[pizzed]

12. "grudging consessions" MY GRANNIES AZZ!!!

quote: They spoke on condition of anonymity, saying they were not authorized to discuss provisions"

SINCE WHEN are "democratic officials" AFRAID TO SPEAK OUT and, MORE IMPORTANTLY, who the hell are they so afraid OF??

Take a moment to reflect that there were 38 CO-SPONSORS of Conyers Bill BEFORE the election - and that every single one of those 38 who were elected (because they promised impeachment!) -including Conyers, HIMSELF reneged!

Actually, CONYERS has become as adamant as AIPAC-Pelosi about 'no' impeachment! WHAT'S THE REASON FOR THAT???

The founder of pledgetoimpeach.org had obtained promises from several representatives that IF he could deliver enough petitions they would go through with impeachment. He reported that he sensed f-e-a-r in those he spoke to and was deeply impressed and puzzled by that. After two trips to Capitol Hill, APPOINTMENTS were eventually made to meet with some of these Representatives. My information is that Conyers ALREADY HAD 'enough' petitions, but when the date came to meet - all of them backed out of the meeting. Conyers blew it off and was not only rude, but 'ridiculed' the whole idea of impeachment.

WHAT'S THE REASON FOR THAT???

I don't mean to imply that it is the 'only' reason, but please read my post above: 'What's behind it???' BushCo has every reason to believe they CAN and WILL carry out their psychotic determination to Dominate The World Through Super Military Power. Making the Richest Corporations Richer is how they finance that end. And of course, the core PNAC people have many financial ties with the Corporations involved and with Israel. google the 'New American Century' and 'Rebuilding America's Defences - Strategy, Forces and Resources For a New Century' (I mean the radical Israel, the fanatic-zionists, that is. Google 'the Clean Break' if you doubt that.) Check the NAMES on those documents. Check how they send letters of instructions to the Presidents - including Clinton until they got pizzed with him for being 'too wimpy' and backing off after an American soldier was dragged to death through the streets ON CAMERA in Somalia.

(Didn't Hillary go straight to Israel for 'blessing' when she announced her canidacy!?!)

I suspect that what the Dems are so afraid of is losing their seat on the gravy train. (do not forget that THEY are largely financed by the SAME Corporations/PACs that finance the Repubs) Little do they know that - as far as PNAC/Corporations are concerned - whether Dem or Repub, those A.H. Politician bootlicker's are JUST AS EXPENDABLE as our sons and daughters that are sent to kill and be killed under the guise of fighting for our "freedom"


One more quote: "Democrats in both houses are expected to seek other opportunities later this year to challenge Bush's handling of the unpopular conflict."
You bet your sweet bippy they will.... sometime before the election to flim-flam the gullible Voters again about how 'responsive' they are to the People......... my grannies AZZ!

Our ONLY hope is for Voters: Dem, Repub, Green, Ind, ALL of us to vote in a THIRD PARTY - NOT any 'existing party' - but a 100% GRASSROOTS 'NO Party' party!

How about drafting Al Gore AND Chuck Hagel to run in it!?

........they are both fully aware of the PNAC-fascist-takeover of America! ...and both are TRUSTWORTHY! unlike almost EVERY other politician.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

14. military industrial lobbyists?

[BuyingThyme]

15. Minimum wage? No, Nancy that will not appease us.

It will make you look even more like a minimal legislator.

Get your stinking, fucking ass off my table.

[pizzed]

18. Al Gore AND Chuck Hagel

... ditto re: your message. Time to table Pelosi!

Pelosi is the Congressional AIPAC-representative, Hillary's counterpart, and she should be Re-Called. asap.

If Dem and Repub Voters would stop blaming each other they'd soon see the TRUTH ... but as long as they can be kept divided and gullible, we're all lost.

How do you like my idea for a NO-Party party, headed by Al Gore and Chuck Hagel - about the last true Americans left in these United Corporate-states of Amerika.
????????????????????????????????????????????

[BuyingThyme]

19. Chuck Hagel is a butt bagel.